Acts 18:22

At Caesarea. Evidently a great deal of action is covered in this verse. At Caesarea he doubtless renewed his contact with Philip the evangelist. He was a guest in Philip’s home in Caesarea on a later occasion (ch. 21:8). Gone up. That is, from the coast town to the city of Jerusalem. Saluted the church. Or, “greeted the church.” This is a brief notice indeed of a visit to what was then the center of all Christian life and action. This is Paul’s fourth visit to Jerusalem after his conversion (cf. chs. 9:26; 11:30; 15:4; 21:17). No mention is made of a gathering of the church as in ch. 14:27, or of a report of what Paul and his companions had been accomplishing. Even the name of the city is not given, nor is anything said about the fulfillment of Paul’s vow. Some suggest that Paul met with a cool reception and that his position concerning the law in relation to the Gentile Christians had alienated from him the Christians in Jerusalem, who were naturally zealous for the law. But this is little more than a speculation. Whatever the reason, the apostle hastened on as soon as possible to what must have been the congenial society of the Christians at Antioch. To Antioch. Paul’s return to Antioch marks the end of the Second Missionary Journey. It was about A.D. 52 (cf. p. 102).